Sandra Lane (Sitton) Parish

Sandra Lane Sitton Parish, age 75, of Richland Hills, TX, went home to be with the Lord on January 4, 2023.

She was born on February 8, 1947 in Henderson, TX, where her family farmed. When she was 11, her family moved to Waller, TX and managed a Chicken Ranch. She was an active member of the local 4-H Club, participating by showing chickens and sewing clothes. She also loved the piano, especially hymns, and began teaching herself how to play in fourth grade. After a handful of lessons, she began playing in church at age 10.

She graduated from Waller High School in 1965 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education in 1969 from Stephen F. Austin. In 1981, she earned her Master of Education from TCU. She taught school for 18 years, the last 16 of those in Kennedale ISD, where she taught seven years of High School Home Economics, followed by teaching both kindergarten and first grade.

She met and fell in love with Ray Parish at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church. They married December 28, 1973, recently celebrating 49 years of marriage. Ray and Sandra enjoyed playing tennis together for many years, and also loved playing Texas 42 as well as many card games with friends. Travel was another favorite of Sandra’s, and she was thankful to see so much of the U.S. as well as a number of other countries. Ray and Sandra had their daughter Susan in January of 1978. Sandra was a loving, devoted mother, and a dedicated supporter of all of Susan’s endeavors. Sandra was so proud of all of Susan’s accomplishments and so grateful for the caring, wonderful lady Susan has become. Sandra was an amazing wife, mother, and friend.

Sandra made her profession of faith in Jesus at a revival when she was nine years old. She remained active in church throughout her life, from teaching sixth grade Sunday School, helping in the Women’s Ministry, to serving on the leadership team in her Sunday School Classes. After Ray and Sandra moved from East Fort Worth to Richland Hills in 1997, they moved their church membership to North Richland Hills Baptist Church where they remained active members.

Sandra struggled with health issues throughout her life, beginning at age eleven, when she was diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver from unknown causes. In 1990, at age 42, she was fortunate to receive a liver transplant which worked great for the next 32.5 years. She was an active volunteer for many years in the Transplant Programs at both Baylor Dallas and Baylor All Saints in Fort Worth, as well as the Southwest Transplant Alliance and Life Gift Organ Center. Thanks to the gift of life, she was able to live a full, long life. However, after years of many medications, her kidneys finally failed in October of 2021. She was on dialysis the next 14 months until her body could no longer tolerate it, leading to her passing.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, John Gaddy and Erma Oma Sitton, and brothers Ronnie Sitton, Harold Sitton, and James Sitton, sister-in-law Cynthia Sitton, brother-in-law Jerry Gostecnik, and sister-in-law Eunice Sitton. She is survived by her husband, Ray, and their daughter, Susan, as well as her brother Doyle Sitton, sister Terecia Gostecnik, sister-in-law Marie Sitton, sister-in-law Sammie Sitton, and brother-in-law Tom Parish and wife Janis, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A service to celebrate Sandra's life will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 14, 2023 at North Richland Hills Baptist Church located at 6955 Blvd 26 North, North Richland Hills, Texas 76180.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Sandra’s memory to:
Cornerstone Assistance Network
www.cornerstonefortworth.org
or
Southwest Transplant Alliance Foundation
www.organ.org/sta-foundation